The faint sound of running came from outside, then the door slammed open letting in a babble of voices. For a brief second, a tall man with dark hair stood silhouetted in its frame, Spitzy's aide behind him, an expression of relief on her face.
Spitzy snapped to attention. "Sir, what are you doing here?"
The man's gaze had been locked on Kira's bent head, but at that, his focus shifted to Spitzy. There was fire in his eyes as he said in a tight voice, "Commander Spatz, I assume you received the memo passed to every person on this station dictating any incidents involving the Tuann were to be forwarded to my team."
Spitzy didn't move, his expression chilling. "I did."
"Then, is there a reason several of their delegation are sitting in a detention room? Furthermore, why have they been separated from the two children under their care?" The man's voice was excruciatingly polite as he verbally dressed down Spitzy.
Kira couldn't help the smallest bit of amusement.
"Sir, I have a duty to protect those on this station. I felt it best to investigate the incident to ascertain there was no further threat," Spitzy said stiffly.
"And did you bother to review the feeds of what happened?" the man asked, sounding annoyingly reasonable despite the bite in his tone.
Spitzy held quiet, not knowing which answer would damn him more.
"If you had, you would have already cleared everyone of any charges," the man said through clenched teeth.
"Sir," Spitzy started.
"Dismissed."
Spitzy didn't move.
"Was I not clear?" the man said, a snap in his voice. "Dismissed."
"This is my case," Spitzy started.
"Out," the man roared.
Spitzy held in what he had been about to say, giving Kira a fulminating glare before exiting the room.
The door slid shut behind him.
Kira remained still for a moment, studying the newcomer as he did the same to her. She sighed. She'd hoped to avoid this, but it seemed wishes and hopes were not to be. She slowly sat back, pushing her hood away from her face before bracing one elbow on the chair as she made herself comfortable, her body relaxed and pliant as she sprawled in the chair.
"It's true," the man said, his gaze roving over her face.
"It's been a long time, Jace," she said with a smile that was closer to a grimace.
Jace was quiet, his expression blank, his thoughts hidden.
"I see you've been promoted," she said, noting the rear admiral bars on his shoulder and chest. He'd been a captain the last time they'd seen each other
He didn't respond for so long that Kira shifted uncomfortably. He touched his hand to the force field. It turned opaque, shielding them from the Tuann’s prying gazes.
Kira tapped it. No response.
She assumed the change would block auditory as well as visual. Stupid of Spitzy not to have activated it as soon as he entered.
"That's all you have to say to me after all this time?" he asked in a carefully controlled voice.
Kira held silent, not knowing what response would be best.
“Twelve years and six months since you disappeared on me," he continued. “Not one word to let me know you were alive and not one of the countless casualties from the Falling.”
Kira swallowed the lump in her throat, struggling to keep her eyes on his, guilt and regret making her want to slink away.
The Jace she remembered hadn't been capable of such restraint. He would have raged and thrown things, his temper a seething tempest before it inevitably blew itself out.
This man was different. But twelve years had a way of changing people.
"The war has been over for nine years. Where have you been all this time?"
She shrugged. "Here and there."
He nodded, the slight ticking at his jaw revealing his emotions.
He touched the force field again, turning it clear. "O'Riley Station thanks you for your quick and decisive actions. Your intervention undoubtedly saved the lives of those children and countless others."
The words were said by rote, as if part of a formal statement he'd memorized.
He stepped aside and gestured at the door. "We apologize for any inconvenience this experience has caused you."
Kira was slow in lifting herself out of her seat. That was it? She'd expected more.
The Tuann leader straightened, confusion on his and his people’s faces.
Kira didn't look back as she made her way to the door.
"Kira."
She paused and turned her head toward him.
He jerked his chin at Jin lying inert on the table. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Right.
"Come on, Jin."
Jin booted up and lifted from the table, showing no signs of being the worse for wear from being in a device designed to make it impossible for him to power himself on.
Jace didn't seem particularly surprised at the feat. But then again, he wouldn't be, given his history with the two of them.
Kira walked to the door and waited for Jace to open it. There was a long pause where she thought he'd changed his mind about letting them go.
"Don't even think of leaving the station," he said as the door slid open.
Whatever response she'd planned was forestalled as she found her way blocked by a mountain. Her words died in her throat as her head tilted, surprise preventing her from retreating from the dangerous creature in front of her.
A pair of irritated, stormy gray eyes stared at her from a face chiseled from granite. A thin slash of a mouth was the one hint of displeasure in the man's expression.
His dark hair hung loose, complementing his stubborn jaw and the sharp angles of his features. He had an athletic body, long, but built like a tank from what she could see in his synth armor.
His and Kira's gazes locked. She caught her breath at the raw charisma oozing out of every pore. This was a man used to giving orders and having them obeyed. He was a force of nature given form, implacable and demanding.
He had the same ageless quality as the guard's captain, but in him, it was magnified. He was power and fury, an oppressive weight lingering in his gaze as he frowned down at Kira.
She remained motionless, tempted to back down and clear the way for him. She resisted, something inside refusing to bow.
She waited, her expression unyielding as he lingered in the doorway. She wasn't going to be the first to move.
Finally, something in him relented, and he stepped aside.
She stepped out, brushing past him, her senses heightened like she'd danced along death's dagger and barely escaped with her life.
She almost froze again at the sight of five more like him crowding the hallway. Only Jace calling out to the stranger made her come unstuck.
She marched toward the desk and Ensign Waverly.
"I suppose I have you to thank for the timely interruption," Kira said mildly.
The woman's startle was barely perceptible. "I did as was required by my standing orders."
Kira's lips quirked. "Thank you, nonetheless."
Waverly's chin dipped. "You're welcome, Captain."
*
Graydon watched the woman stalk away. He glanced at one of his men. "Follow her."
Baran nodded and stepped away from the wall, Amila following, as they trailed the strange woman.